May 20, 2024
Haustorium Edition
On Starting Strength
Narrowcasting, Rip’s Nasal Routine, and Twitter –
Rip answers questions from Starting Strength Network subscribers and fans.
The Role of Strength Training for Parents of Autistic Kids by Terry Brown –
My eldest son is 6 years old, non-verbal and has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and sensory processing disorder. Some days are great…
Critical Technique Elements – Part 4: The Bench Press by Andrew Lewis –
Many lifters bench press incorrectly despite its wide popularity and relative technical ease. There are many ways…
Chasing the Leaderboard –
Stefanie’s journey at Starting Strength Boise is a testament to her dedication. Her goal is to secure a spot on the leaderboard while adding lean mass to her frame.
Five Important Things by Jim Steel –
Forty-one years ago, I lifted my first weights on a Universal machine in Mr. Mcclung’s class at Buck Lodge Junior High School…
Weekend Archives:
Training With A Hangover by Bill Starr –
Over the years, I’ve had occasion to visit with many collegiate strength coaches, and one of their concerns always seems to be…
Weekend Archives:
The Texas Method by Mark Rippetoe –
There are many advantages to being a young man. The problem is that you’re young and you don’t know this yet…
In the Trenches
William Squats a set of five at Brussels Barbell. [photo courtesy of Gabriela Dimitrova]
Thomas gets ready to press at the Brussels Barbell Training Camp last Saturday. [photo courtesy of Gabriela Dimitrova]
Anthony locks out his press at the Starting Strength squat, press, and deadlift training camp. [photo courtesy of Gabriela Dimitrova]
William stands tall to finish his set of five. [photo courtesy of Gabriela Dimitrova]
Lindsey Nelson locks out a press with her eye gaze cued forward. Her warmup music tastes run Jim Croce, but for PR worksets, it’s old-school hip-hop. [photo courtesy of Adam Martin]
Grace sets a clean-and-jerk PR at 36 kg while working on her split jerk footwork. Grace trains at Testify Strength & Conditioning in Omaha, NE, along with her mom, dad, and sister, and she will be competing (along with her sister) in Testify’s upcoming IronFest, a team-based lifting event held every July. [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]
Paul snatches 71 kg for a double – along with a snatch balance in the middle for good measure – on Tuesday evening at Testify Strength & Conditioning. Paul is a Renaissance man of the lifting world – he is adept at “lazy loading” barbell math as shown here and will also be competing in Testify’s annual Strongman Summer Showdown in June. [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]
Representing the mighty states of both Nebraska (Go Big Red!) and Colorado, Stacie squats 167.5 lb for her work sets on Monday afternoon at Testify Strength & Conditioning in Omaha, NE. Stacie and her fiance, Jim, train at Starting Strength Denver but are regular guests at Testify as well. The next time we see them, they’ll be getting married! [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]
Starting Strength Austin members Andrew, Ashton, and Graham competed in their first meet at the WFAC Strengthlifting Spring Classic accompanied by Jeff Bernitz, SSC. All set PRs, and Ashton won best lifter in the Women’s division. [photo courtesy of Audrey Monroe]
Stan voices his displeasure at “plant-based” culture in Starting Strength Boston’s 9am MWF class. [photo courtesy of Michael Shammas]
Get Involved
Best of the Week
Torn Hamstring
Domjo54
Injured playing baseball (non-contact injury) nine days ago. Hamstring is swollen / painful / rotating bruising, with related pain in the knee and glute. Yesterday’s MRI reading just came in:FINDINGS:Complete tear of the mid semimembranosus tendon. The tear is located approximately 10 cm inferior to the ischial tuberosity. Retraction of the distal tendon with approximately 7 to 7.5 cm gap between the torn tendon segments. Moderate ill-defined fluid and hemorrhage in the fascial plane. Small amount of hemorrhage and edema around the adjacent sciatic nerve.. Associated ill-defined T2 hyperintense interstitial edema and hemorrhage in the distal semimembranosus muscle belly.”The biceps femoris/semitendinosus are normally intact.Signal intensity of the visualized femur is normal. The anterior compartment musculature of the right thigh is normal.IMPRESSION:
1. Complete rupture of the mid semimembranosus tendon with moderate retraction.
2. Associated strain of the semimembranosus muscle belly.I am meeting with an orthopedist in two days to review. While I’ve been cautious thus far, I’m self-aware enough to acknowledge my own tendency to push myself faster than he’ll likely recommend (and am balancing that against the bias that surgeons are more likely to recommend surgery). Trying to gather what questions / perspective I should go in with, as well as whether I should be doing anything but RICE.(I acknowledge none of this is official medical advice.)
Mark Rippetoe
You waited 9 days before getting a diagnosis, and are waiting 2 more days to get the advice of the surgeon. It’s a bit late to repair anything now, since it’s already “healing.” How old are you?
Domjo54
To clarify: I got medical attention last week, but it took a week for the MRI. Original expectation was that it was a strain. Getting on specialists’ calendars is a bitch.Age 31. Have been training for a dozen years. Like everyone else who trains, I’ve accumulated injuries, but never of this kind.If it were strictly a muscle injury, AND had been closer to the time of injury, Starr Protocol may have been appropriate. Given that it’s a full rupture of the tendon, I find myself pretty unsure.
Mark Rippetoe
It should have been repaired about 8 days ago. Now, you’ll just have to work through it.
Domjo54
Work through = …?And is the implication that, at this point, I should avoid surgery?
Mark Rippetoe
I doubt you’ll find a decent surgeon who would repair it at this point. Start the lifts light, and progress as possible.
SmokeyStrong
Rip, this could very well be a stupid question, but do you have any tips you’ve learned and follow of what injuries require immediate diagnosis and which can be a more “wait and see”?I’ve read some other posts here about back injuries and have learned from you that sometimes back tweaks happen and you can work through it slowly. This case should have been seen immediately but I could picture myself also waiting to see if it got better on my own, which I’m now learning wouldn’t be best.Maybe it would be more obvious when it happens just from how bad it hurts, or is the back just more of an exception, and it’s usually better to just get things checked out to be safe?
Mark Rippetoe
Tendon ruptures need to be repaired ASAFP, while muscle bellies usually heal pretty well unless the muscle is torn completely in two, which doesn’t often happen in the weight room. Back tweaks heal, and unless there is neurological deficit, e.g. numbness, loss of control, they don’t usually need to be seen. But there are exceptions, so don’t hesitate to ask somebody.
Best of the Forum
Zercher Squat
Leonardo Cavaleiro
I recently watched a video of UFC athlete Jon Jones performing Zercher Squats with 435 pounds for 5 reps, while making it sound like it was a really big accomplishment. Would like to hear your guys opinion on it, and if or when it has a valid place in a strength training program.Have a nice day!
Andrew Lewis
Zercher squats do not really have a place in general strength training. I could imagine a strongman wanting to use them for some specific event, but that’s not something I’m familiar with.The fact that Jon Jones uses Zercher squats doesn’t mean much. He should still be squatting, pressing, deadlifting, and benching to get stronger.
Mark Rippetoe
Phil Anderson at WFAC still holds the world record of 500 at 198, set in 1989, I think. Never trained for it, just squatted, benched, and deadlifted. He did a 500 Steinborn the same day. Tell Jon that Phil says hello.